JURGEN
MOLTMANN
(Messianic
Christology)
A realistic Theology of
the Future
Among
Jurgen Moltmann works- Theology of hope is his first major work that made him
internationally famous, where it stressed a dialectical hope. His two other
books focus explicitly on Christology: The Crucified God and The Way of Jesus
Christ.
The
leading motif of Moltmann’s theology that carries over into all topics is the
prominence of eschatology. Moltmann’s eschatology is integrally related to
Christology in that Christian faith is grounded in hope for the future hope
based on the cross and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Moltmann describes his
theology as biblical founded, eschatologically oriented and politically
responsible.
The Trinitarian History
of God Based on the Cross of Christ
Moltmann
is a thoroughly Trinitarian theologian. His doctrine of the trinity takes a
distinctive form, however, owing to its Christological point of view focused on
the cross of Christ. According to Moltmann’s view of creation, in order for God
to create a world distinct from himself, the infinite God had to make room
beforehand for finitude in himself. Moltmann developed a doctrine of the
Trinity firmly anchored in the happenings of the world and culminating in the
cross of Christ.
The way of Jesus Christ
In
his main Christological work, The way of Jesus Christ, Moltmann returns to the
topic that has occupied him from the beginning of his career. He maintains that
in order for Christian theology to gain a proper perspective on Jesus Christ
theologians must take the Jewish framework into account.
The
most distinctive contributions of The Way of Jesus Christ is that it depicts
Jesus Christ on a journey from his earthly ministry to his parousia. In this
work, the eschatological perspective on Jesus is even more prevalent: Jesus
Christ is on his way to the messianic future. He divided his main Christological work into five
stages: His earthly ministry, cross, resurrection, present cosmic rule and
parousia.
Moltmann’s
Christology in The Way of Jesus Christ is focusing pneumatological work, The
Spirit of Life that might be called as Spirit Christology. Spirit Christology
approaches the person and ministry of Jlesus Christ from the perspective of the
Holy Spirit.
Theology of Cross
No
one has focused on Martin Luther and his groundbreaking theology of Cross with
such intensity and creativity as Moltmann. His interest in the suffering of
Christ was intensified by his experiences as a war prisoner following World War
II. In the spirit of Martin Luther, Moltmann maintains that the only way to
know God is to know God hidden in the cross and shame. Cross is the criterion
and standard for all theology.
The Suffering Christ
and Our Suffering
Traditionally,
theology has had a difficult time talking about the suffering of a perfect God.
Moltmann argues that there are several reasons why theology should talk about
divine suffering. God is decisive and definitely revealed in the shame and
suffering of the cross.
The
nature of love also requires us to take seriously the idea of the suffering of
God. Suffering does not make God less God but rather a truly loving,
passionate, involved person.
Christ and His Church
Is that it is integrally connected with the
church, the body of Christ. The Church is the Church of Jesus Christ. Moltmann
describes his doctrine of the church as a messianic and relational
ecclesiology. Therefore, his view is “a Christological founded and
eschatological directed doctrine of the church.” The Church is the church of Jesus
Christ, subject to his lordship alone. Thus, Christ church has to be messianic
fellowship. As the church of Christ, the Church lives “between remembrance of
his history and hope of his kingdom”; the church is not the kingdom but its
anticipation.
The
church participates in the passion of Christ until God’s Kingdom of joy and
peace arrives. The church is drawn to God’s pain in the world is the way to
God’s happiness with the world. Following traditional Reformed dogmatics,
Moltmann talks about the three offices of Christ as prophets (ministry), priest
(death) and king (resurrection/rule).
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